Belonging is the physical, psychological, or spiritual acceptance of an individual and others into an existing entity.

The journey towards ones state of belonging is inevitably dynamic.

Ones identity, individuality, and uniqueness often dictate where and what group one belongs with.

Many would consider that we as human beings have a strong need to belong and to be accepted in a certain group.

This need is a natural fundamental human motivation, an expression of our humanity, that is established everywhere in each person with very few exceptions.

It is true that trouble can take place and unpleasant things can come about because of these groups, but the advantages far outweigh the costs.

These groups that people form among themselves often provide as a shelter for the lonely, for this reason it is natural for people to go far out of their way if necessary to belong to a particular crowd.

Research has revealed that positive relationships and a good feeling of belongingness can have a very positive impact on physical health, whilst ostracism and feeling of loneliness can literally make people physically sick.

Adversely, some would consider the desire not to belong because groups tend to foster an “us-versus-them” perspective that can be seen as counterproductive.

Join now!

If a person would like to associate with people who see the world the same way as them, being a member of a group is going to make that tremendously difficult, as it involves just more of the equal fighting for an individual’s beliefs.

Additionally, the majority of groups are focused on single issues.

People who are not very intelligent can only focus on single things at a time and become fixated.

They become dimmer still when they assemble together to empathize about their fixation.

Thus, groups tend to be made up not of the reasonably best and brightest, but ...

This is a preview of the whole essay